The Met Cloisters in New York

The Met Cloisters in New York is a museum constructed in the style of a medieval European monastery. The Cloisters art museum is situated in the northernmost tip of Manhattan and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Furthermore, it’s part of the renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. The building alone is worth a visit. Already visited the main New York attractions? Or, are you a big fan of museums? You should certainly consider paying a visit to The Cloisters museum.

The Met Cloisters is part of The Met; buy The Met tickets here

Eric's Index

1 The Cloisters Collection
2 Medieval Cloisters
- 2.1 Practical Information
3 FAQ

The Cloisters Collection

The museum’s primary focus is European medieval art and architecture: the impressive collection comprises almost 5000 works. See sculptures, stained glass, tapestries and much more. The majority of the collection dates from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries. The collection, as well as the land on which the museum sits, belonged to John D. Rockefeller Jr.

The Met Cloisters is not a large museum; in fact, you can see the entire collection in around an hour and a half.

Eric’s Tip: “One of this museum’s main highlights is the surrounding gardens. Full of trees, much like the park where The Met Cloisters is located. It’s a good idea to plan your visit when the trees are green. In addition, pay a visit to the museum cafe, open from April to October.”

Medieval Cloisters

The impressive building that houses this division of The Met seems like it has been here for centuries. In fact, the cloisters weren’t built as such. Rather, it was constructed as a museum in the 1930s. Most noteworthy, the original materials from several different European monasteries were used to piece together this beautiful building.

Eric’s Tip: “The entrance fee is included in the general admission tickets to the Met; therefore it is not possible to buy separate tickets to this museum. Due to the long travel time to The Met Cloisters, visiting both museums in one day may be difficult.”

Practical Information

Opening hours:
- The museum is open from Thursday to Tuesday
- Closed on Wednesdays
- Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Location: 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park
How to get there: The Cloisters art museum is in Fort Tryon Park, around 30 minutes away by subway from Midtown Manhattan. The A train takes you directly from Times Square to the museum.
Accessibility: The museum is wheelchair accessible, but the accessibility at the main entrance is limited due to cobblestones and steps. A free shuttle service is available for visitors who require a step-free entrance.

Buy The Met tickets here

FAQ

The main focus of the Cloisters is European medieval art and architecture. The collection matches the building, which is constructed in the style of a medieval European monastery.

The collection of this branch of The Met isn't huge, so you need about 1.5 hours to see everything.

No, you need a general admission ticket for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This ticket includes entrance to The Cloisters.